Whoops

May 18, 1986|By Charlie Jean

AN INTERNATIONAL team of astronomers using new geometric techniques has found the sun to be 23,000 light years from the center of our galaxy rather than the 33,000 light years previously believed, says Dr. Mark Reid of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. The discovery could have a profound impact on many aspects of astronomy. It would reduce the size of the Milky Way from 100,000 light years, as has been believed, to 70,000 light years, and will change thinking about the size of the universe, now placed at 10 billion to 20 billion light years.